Ten suspects were arrested and each was charged with three counts of attempted murder of a federal officer this weekend after Texas ICE facility was attacked and one police officer was shot in the neck.
This is the second of two attacks targeting ICE officers in Texas in the last week — just weeks after violent anti-ICE riots rocked Los Angeles. Assaults against ICE officers increased 413% last month, according to the DHS. This should come as no surprise in light of Democrats’ increasingly violent anti-ICE rhetoric.
The suspects charged are Elizabeth Soto, Maricela Rueda, Ines Soto, Savannah Batten, Seth Sikes, Bradford Morris (who calls himself Meagan Morris), Cameron Arnold (who calls himself Autumn Hill), Joy Gibson, Zachary Evetts, and Nathan Baumann. All are from northern Texas. If convicted, they could face between 10 years and life in federal prison, according to Fox 11.
The attack on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, began when a group of people shot fireworks at the building on the night of July 4. The facility is currently being used by DHS to hold immigration violators awaiting deportation. After a few minutes, one or two suspects broke off from the group to vandalize vehicles and a guard structure in the parking lot.
Officials believe the disturbance was designed to draw ICE officers out of the building, reported Fox 11. Corrections officers called 911. An officer from the Alvarado Police Department responded and was shot in the neck by a suspect hiding in nearby woods. Another suspect fired 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed corrections officers who had ventured outside.
The group fled the scene, but the suspects were eventually rounded up by local law enforcement. A dozen sets of body armor, magazines containing ammunition, masks, goggles, gloves, two-way radios, spray paint, fireworks, flyers, and a flag reading “Resist Fascism. Fight Oligarchy.” were found in their vehicles and at the scene. The suspects were reported to be “dressed in black, military-style clothing” at the time of their arrest.
The suspects are also charged with three counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Another suspect has been charged with obstruction of justice for trying to conceal or destroy evidence.
The wounded officer from the Alvarado Police Department is expected to recover.
Jacqueline Annis-Levings is a correspondent for the Federalist. She is a rising junior at Patrick Henry College, where she is majoring in English.